Tarmac Calculator 2026: Tonnage per m² & UK Driveway Cost
I built this tarmac calculator in proper UK units — tonnes per m², 40 mm and 50 mm depth presets, and 2026 UK material pricing at £90–£140 per tonne. After 15 years pricing paving in both US and UK markets, I wanted one tool that did metric defaults without converting in my head. Works for tarmac driveways, car parks, courtyards and access roads. Same engineering math as US hot mix; the calculator just speaks tonnes and millimetres natively.
What this tarmac calculator gives you:
- Tonnage per m² at 40 mm or 50 mm laying depth
- Volume in cubic metres and weight in tonnes
- Material cost in £, installed cost £60–£120 per m²
- Same engine as the US asphalt calculator — pure metric defaults
Tarmac calculator (metric)
Defaults: 50 mm depth, 2,322 kg/m³ density, 7% waste, £90–£140/tonne. Switch to imperial if you need US tons or square feet — the calculator handles both.
Tonnes of tarmac per m² — UK quick reference
Standard tarmac density is 2,322 kg/m³ (145 lb/ft³), the same as American hot mix asphalt. Per-m² tonnage at common UK paving depths:
| Depth | Tonnes per m² | m² per tonne | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mm | 0.046 | 21.5 | Wearing course overlay |
| 25 mm | 0.058 | 17.2 | Light wearing course |
| 40 mm | 0.093 | 10.8 | Standard binder course |
| 50 mm | 0.116 | 8.6 | Residential drive surface |
| 65 mm | 0.151 | 6.6 | Drive (binder + wearing) |
| 75 mm | 0.174 | 5.7 | Heavy access / car park |
| 100 mm | 0.232 | 4.3 | Industrial / lorry traffic |
Worked example: 50 m² driveway at 50 mm = 50 × 0.116 = 5.8 tonnes base; with 7% waste = 6.2 tonnes to order. Material cost at £115/tonne mid-range = £713. Add base and labour and you're at £4,500–£6,500,500 installed. If you'd rather work in US units, the asphalt tonnage calculator runs the same maths in square feet and US short tons.
How thick should a tarmac driveway be in the UK?
UK residential standard: 40 mm binder course + 25 mm wearing course = 65 mm total, laid over 100–150 mm of compacted Type 1 MOT sub-base. Single-layer 50 mm pours are common on tighter drives where the engineering math allows.
| Use | Binder course | Wearing course | Sub-base (Type 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential drive — cars only | 40 mm | 25 mm | 100 mm |
| Drive — vans / 4×4 / caravans | 50 mm | 25 mm | 150 mm |
| Car park / small commercial | 50 mm | 30 mm | 150 mm |
| Access road / lorry traffic | 75 mm | 40 mm | 225 mm |
| Resurface / overlay only | — | 25–50 mm | existing |
Tarmac driveway cost UK — 2026 ranges
Material: £90–£140 per tonne at most UK depots in 2026 Q2. Installed: £60–£120 per m² for a residential drive including sub-base, edging and rolling.
| Drive size | Square metres | Tarmac tonnes (50 mm) | Installed cost (£60–£120/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small drive (1 car) | 25 m² | ~3.1 tonnes | £1,500–£3,000 |
| Standard drive (2 cars) | 50 m² | ~6.2 tonnes | £3,000–£6,000 |
| Wide drive (3 cars) | 75 m² | ~9.3 tonnes | £4,500–£9,000 |
| Large drive + turning | 100 m² | ~12.4 tonnes | £6,000–£12,000 |
| Small car park | 200 m² | ~24.8 tonnes | £10,000–£18,000 |
Regional notes: London & South East add 15–25%; Scotland and Wales typically 5–10% below national average; Ireland is similar to mainland UK pricing but more variable on smaller jobs.
For US dollar pricing on the same work, see the main asphalt cost calculator — same math, USD plant rates.
Tarmac vs block paving vs concrete — UK choices
Three common UK drive surfaces compared on cost, lifespan and maintenance for a typical 50 m² drive:
| Surface | Installed cost | Lifespan | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarmac (50 mm + base) | £3,000–£6,000 | 15–20 yr | Seal every 3–5 yr |
| Block paving (concrete pavers) | £4,500–£9,000 | 20–30 yr | Resand every 2–3 yr |
| Resin-bound aggregate | £5,000–£8,500 | 15–25 yr | Minimal, jet-wash only |
| Concrete drive | £3,500–£7,000 | 25–40 yr | Seal every 5 yr |
| Gravel | £800–£2,000 | 3–7 yr | Top-up annually |
If you ask me which I'd put in front of my own house in the UK: tarmac, every time. It wins on installed cost and is the default answer for "I just want a tidy drive without spending a fortune." Block paving wins on lifespan and aesthetics; concrete wins on durability for commercial use. Resin-bound wins on permeability and SUDS planning rules. Pick on the trade-off that matters most to you.
For US-style residential drives in asphalt, the driveway asphalt calculator uses the same density (145 lb/ft³ = 2,322 kg/m³) but defaults to inches and US short tons. The underlying calculation methodology is identical — tarmac and hot mix asphalt are the same material with different regional naming.
Tarmac calculator FAQ
How many tonnes of tarmac do I need per m²?
About 0.12 tonnes per m² at 50 mm depth, or 0.09 tonnes per m² at 40 mm. Multiply your drive area in m² by these figures, then add 7% waste. The calculator above does this automatically.
What's the difference between tarmac and asphalt?
In the UK, "tarmac" is the everyday name for bituminous macadam — a paving mix with bitumen binder and aggregate. American "hot mix asphalt" is the same thing technically. Modern UK tarmac no longer uses coal tar (it's all bitumen-based), so the density (2,322 kg/m³) and tonnage math are identical.
How thick is a 10 mm or 6 mm tarmac?
The "mm" in "10 mm tarmac" or "6 mm tarmac" refers to the maximum aggregate size in the mix, not the laying depth. 10 mm tarmac is the standard UK residential wearing course material; 6 mm tarmac is a finer mix for tighter finish work. Both are typically laid 20–50 mm thick depending on the layer.
How much is a tarmac driveway for a 50 m² area?
£3,000–£5,000,000 installed in 2026 UK pricing, including 100 mm Type 1 sub-base, 40 mm binder course, 25 mm wearing course, edging and rolling. Material alone (about 6.2 tonnes) runs £560–£670 at depot pricing.
Can I lay tarmac myself in the UK?
For small repair jobs and pothole fills with cold-lay tarmac — yes. For a full drive, no. Hot tarmac arrives at 140–160 °C, you have a 20–30 minute working window, and the roller weight required for proper compaction (1.5-tonne minimum) is beyond what most homeowners can rent and operate safely.
Do I need planning permission for a tarmac drive?
If the drive is more than 5 m² and uses non-permeable tarmac that drains to the public highway, you may need planning permission under SUDS rules. Permeable solutions (resin-bound or block paving with permeable joints) often avoid the requirement. Check with your local council before quoting.